Advocacy in action

Speech and Hearing BC actively participates in national advocacy through the Pan-Canadian Alliance of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Associations. This work helps shape policies and strategies that influence the profession across Canada, ensuring the perspectives of BC professionals are represented in national discussions on speech and hearing care.

Member engagement plays a vital role in effective advocacy. By staying informed, sharing professional insights, and supporting collective initiatives, members help strengthen SHBC’s voice on issues that affect practice, service delivery, and client outcomes.

• Display “Did You Know?” posters in your workplace or community spaces to raise awareness about speech, language, and hearing.

• Participate in May is Speech and Hearing Month initiatives.

• Share SHBC brochures with families and healthcare professionals.

• Engage on social media to stay informed and join professional discussions.

• Encourage families to voice their needs to provincial representatives.

• Contribute a story to Vibrations, SHBC’s quarterly e-newsletter.

Interested in doing more? Join the Advocacy Committee or contact us to learn how you can get involved.

The Advocacy Toolkit provides practical guidance and resources to support informed advocacy. It includes key messaging, background information, and tools designed to help members confidently communicate the value and impact of speech and hearing services.

Member Presentation Slide
As a member of Speech and Hearing BC you have the privilege of representing the Association when you are out and about in a professional capacity. One way you can do that is to include some information on the Association in any public presentations that you do that are related to speech-language pathology and audiology. We have included a slide and some notes for you to add to presentations to the public, to colleagues, to other professions, wherever you see fit. We hope you will take this opportunity to improve and increase our visibility around the province. Please be in touch with any questions.

Schools SLP Advocacy
LDD Position Paper 2024
School Advocacy Letter #1 Ratio Request (October 2020)
School Advocacy Letter #2 Request to Consider Services (October 2020)

SHBC maintains ongoing relationships with government and regulatory bodies to support policies that improve access to speech and hearing services in British Columbia. This work focuses on areas such as funding, workforce sustainability, and the long-term needs of the communities we serve.

• Read the Budget Consultation Report Volume I released on August 21, 2020. (Specific reference to Speech and Hearing BC was made on page 60 and 63.)
• View Speech and Hearing BC’s submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services in June 2020.
• Read Speech and Hearing BC’s submission to the Ministry of Health on the Modernization of the Health Regulatory Framework (January 2020).